Electric connector



Sept. 16, 1941. F. c. DOUGHMAN ELECTRIC CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 8, 1939 Patented Sept. 16, 1941 ELECTRIC CONNECTOR Ferman C. Doughman, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 8, 1939, Serial No. 308,104

Claims. (01. 173-332) My invention relates to electric connectors and more particularly to electric connectors of the readily detachable type.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved electric connector which is well protected both electrically and mechanically.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electric connector of simple construction with a minimum number of separate parts which may be readily assembled.

What I consider to be novel and my invention may be better understood by reference to the following specification and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the electric connector of my invention connected to an electric cord;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line '55 of Fig. 4; and

' material such as hard rubber or a phenolic'condensation product. Terminal contacts 13 are provided with coverings I l of insulating material having flanges I8 received in recesses IS in spacer l6. Flanges I 8 are also seated in recesses 20 provided in the inside walls of shell Ill. The flanges l8 serve to lock the spacer l6 and terminal contacts l3 in the shell Ill.

Coverings H, as best indicated in Fig. 3, extend beyond the ends of contacts l3. This protects the adjacent portions of shell I0 from. any arc which may be drawn upon the separation of contacts l3 from any contacts to which they may be connected. If the shell l0 were made of rubber any are striking it would have a deleterious effect.

Spacer I6 is provided with an enlarged end 2| having grooves 22 in which the conductors H are positioned. The conductors H are pressed Shell III has a cord receiving passage by enlarged and 2| against the walls of shell l0 thereby relieving the conductors l4 from any strain at their points of connection to the terminal contacts I3. Any strain resulting from a pull on the cord to disconnect the connector is transmitted by the conductors [4 at the points they engage the shell l0 directly to the shell.

The connector is assembled by first inserting the electric conductors l4 through the passage l I of the shell l0 and sliding the shell l0 back away from the ends of the conductors l4. The terminal contacts l3 are then connected to the ends of the conductors M. The terminal contacts l3 and the spacer l6 are locked in their relative positions with the flanges l8 seated in recesses H! by pins engaging the terminal contacts I3. The assembly of the connector in this stage is illustrated in Fig. 6. The conductors I4 are then held as the shell [0 is pulled over the terminal contacts [3 and spacer IS. The shell l0 expands to permit the spacer l6 and contacts l3 with the outwardly extending flanges l8 to enter the chamber l2. When the contacts l3 and spacer l6 have reached their proper position in the chamber l2 of shell III, the flanges I 8 enter the recesses 20 provided in the inside walls of shell Ill. The assembly of terminal contacts l3 and spacer I6 is then securely held in position within the shell Hi.

What I claim is:

1. An electric connector including a soft rubber shell, a pair of terminal contacts, a covering of non-metallic material for each of said contacts having an outwardly extending shoulder, electric conductors connected to said terminals, a spacer located between said terminals having recesses to receive the shoulders of the coverings of said terminals, and strain relief means for said conductors formed integrally with said spacer, said shell having recesses to receive the shoulders of the coverings of said terminals, whereby said terminals and said spacer are locked in position in said shell.

2. An electric connector including a soft rub- I ber shell, a pair of terminal contacts, a covering of non-metallic material for each of said contacts extending beyond one end of the contacts and having an outwardly extending shoulder, said shell having a recess to receive theand strain relief means connected to said spacer for holding said conductors in engagement with 1 said shell.

3. An electric connector including a soft rubber shell, a pair of terminal contacts open at one end; a covering of non-metallic material for each of said contacts extending beyond the open ends and having an outwardly extending shoulder, binding screws in engagement with said terminals, electric conductors connected to said terminals by said binding screws, a spacer located 10 inengagement with said shell, said shell having 15 recesses to receive the shoulders of said terminals, whereby said terminals and said spacerare locked in position in said shell.

- 4. An electric connector including a shell of resilient material having a chamber open at one 20 end and communicating with a cord receiving passage in the other end, a pair of terminal contacts located in the chamber of said shell, an outwardly extending shoulder formedon each of said, contacts, said shell having, recesses to 25 receive said shoulders, and a spacer of nonmetallic material for said contacts located in the chamber of said shell and having recesses to receive said shoulders, said shoulder of each contact engaging both said shell and said spacer whereby the connector is held in assembled relation by engagementof the shoulders of said contact'with said shell and said spacer.

5. An electric connector including a shell of resilient material having a chamber open at one end and communicating with a conductor receiving passage in the other end, a pair of terminal contacts located in the chamber of said the shoulders on said contacts with said shell and said spacer.

FERMAN C. DOUGHMAN. 

